Egypt’s Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed have warmly shaken hands and exchanged smiles at the New Global Finance Pact Summit in Paris despite the ongoing crisis between the two countries due to the Nile dam dispute, Egyptian media reported.
For over a year, the two countries have been at odds over the filling and operation of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), which Cairo fears will reduce its share or Nile water.
On 4 June, Al-Sisi urged Ethiopia to “compromise” in the dam crisis, which it has been building for more than a decade, amid disagreements and frozen negotiations.
However, the Egyptian and Ethiopian leaders have been unable to reach a compromise over Nile water projects for several years.
During his time in Paris, Al-Sisi met with President of the European Council, Charles Michel, and discussed bilateral regions and the latest developments in the region including the current crisis in Sudan as well as other issues of common
Sisi has caused a stir after he was pictured in a smiling handshake with the Ethiopian president just days after Addis Ababa announced the fourth filling of a controversial mega-dam project, compromising Egyptian water supplies.
Observers were quick to analyse the two men’s body language – some alleging that Sisi appears in a deferential position to Ahmed at a time when Ethiopia has just launched the fourth filling of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), despite protestations from countries downstream.
Dr. Murad Ali, an Egyptian politician, said on his Twitter account, “Sisi’s advisors should warn him that the details in diplomatic meetings are very important and that body language is expository, and is being followed up. It is not appropriate for someone who represents Egypt with its weight and history to appear negligent in its rights, laughing with those who are threatening it. The image of the warm meeting and laughter with Abiy Ahmed does not reflect the existential challenge posed by the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, which Ethiopia insists on completing.”
Also, El-Sahab newspaper commented on the warm handshake between Sisi and Abiy Ahmed, tweeting:
Observers say Abiy Ahmed had been documenting most of his meetings at the summit on Twitter. His moment with Sisi, however, did not get a mention.
Sisi recently called on Ethiopia to “compromise” over the bitterly contested GERD project earlier in June, leading to speculation about a new approach to the Ethiopian mega-dam which Egypt fears could deprive it of life-giving water.
Sisi said he “stressed the importance of encouraging Ethiopia to adopt any compromise solution presented at the negotiating table which preserves its interests without abusing the rights of the downstream countries” – referring to Egypt and Sudan.
Sisi added that the goal was “to reach a legal and binding agreement regarding the filling and operation of the Renaissance Dam”.
Negotiations between Egypt, Ethiopia, and Sudan over the filling and operation of the dam have dragged on for years without any agreement.
While Ethiopia says the dam poses no threat to Egypt and Sudan, it has refused to sign a binding agreement regarding the operation of the dam.
Egypt in particular has been dependent for thousands of years on water from the Nile and fears that the dam could destroy its water supply and agriculture.
